Fruit-jar filler.



Patented Nov. l3, I900. J..H. ASHBAUGH & C. L. WEBSTER.

FRUIT JAR FILLER.

(Application filed May 31, 1900 fin. w

INVENTORS: Jo'imil. dshbazggk, fiaeverl .mbster;

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN H. ASI-IBAUGH, on IRVINGTON, AND CHEEVER L. WEBSTER, 0FINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

FRUIT-JAR FILLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,681, dated November13, 1900.

Application filed May 31, 1900.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN H. ASHBAUGH, residing at lrvington, andOHEEVER L. WEB- STER, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marionand State of Indiana, citizens of the United States, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvementsin Fruit-Jar Fillers; and we dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthere0n,which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to appliances whereby the filling of jars withfruit and the like for preserving the same may be facilitated; and theobject is to provide means whereby the jar may be conveniently handled,particularly while hot, and the fruit poured into the jar withoutdripping the same upon the top and exterior of the jar.

The invention consists in a funnel of new and novel form provided with aclamp adapted to engage either exterior annular ribs or threads orgrooves at the exterior of a jarneck, whereby the funnel may betemporarily attached to the jar, so that the jar may be lifted andcarried by the funnel or bya handle connected therewith.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a fragmentary view inelevation; Fig. 2, a central vertical sectional view showing ourappliances connected to a jar-neck having screw-threads, Fig. 3, aperspective view of our invention in which the extremities of theclamp-handles are broken away; Fig. 4, a bottom plan view, and Fig. 5 aplan View of the clamp as We preferably form it.

Similar letters of reference in the several views of the drawingsdesignate like parts.

In construction we provide a funnel-like bowl A, preferably oftin-plate, of suitable shape, to which is attached a short funneltube B,adapted to freely enter the mouth of a jar T. The tube is circular andis joined at one end, as at wt, preferably by means of solder, asuitable aperture being formed in the bottom of the funnel A,corresponding Serial No. 1&542. (No model.)

to the internal diameter of-the tube B. A circular base 0, having adiameter greater than that of the tube B and preferably tapering, issecured at one end (the smaller end when made tapering) to the funnel A,as at n, preferably by means of solder, and extends around the tube Dand also somewhat below the tube, so that the base may rest upon the topof the body of the jar and at the same time act as a gage, so that theclamp D may register with such portion of the jar-neck as it may bedesigned to engage, 'in the present case the under side of the lowerthread to on the neck. The base 0 has apertures d at two opposite sidesand somewhat near the lower edge thereof, extending circumferentially,in which the clamp is mounted and in which it operates. These aperturesare more or less elongated, as may be required, to conform to the clamp,which in some cases may be wedged against the jar-neck and the sides ofthe apertures, of which there would be four; but, as shown, the web emay be 'removed, if desired, when the clamp is adapted to normallyspring open and then be pressed against the neck by the hand graspingthe handles of the clamp. The apertures are preferably arranged in anannular groove E,

"which affords a seat for the central part of the clamp In forming thebase 0 the two ends a and b of the metal plate of which it is composedpreferably overlap without being secured together, so that the bottom ofthe base may expand and contract to better fit jars of various sizes;but the joint edges may in some cases be soldered together. The clamp Dis composed of spring-wire of suitable diameter and has a centralsemicircular portion f and two arms it slightly curved, the extremitiesof which are curved outwardly and form handles 1', the whole being inplan somewhat in shape like the letter U and the arms may be more orless spread, as may be required. The arms are inserted in the aperturesd and extend through from one side to the opposite side of the base.When the clamp is designed to be forced in as a wedge, the ends shouldnot be curved outwardly, but rather the reverse, but slightly, and thenthe curved portion f may be used as a handle instead of the oppositeends. The elasticity of the clamp will retain it in its place in theapertures of the base.

In practical use the appliance is placed upon the top of a jar that isto be filled, the funneltube extending into the mouth of the jar a shortdistance. Then the arm portions h h of the clamp may be forced againstthe neck of the jar either below a projection or thread or into a grooveshould there be one in the neck, and by this means the jar and thefiller or funnel may be lifted and carried to the preserve-kettle andfilled over it conveniently and then removed without danger of burningthe hands and in a perfectly clean condition ready for sealing.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A fruit-jar filler including a funnel, a base provided with aperturesextending circumferentially, and a clamp mounted movably in theapertures of the base.

2. A fruit-jar filler includinga funnel provided with an apertured baseand a funneltube within the base, and a clamp working in the aperturedbase, whereby the filler may be connected to a jar and the jar carriedthereby.

3. A fruit-jar filler including a funnel having a funnel-tube, a baseprovided with circumferentially-disposed apertures and surrounding thefunnel-tube, and a substantially U -shaped clamp extending through andworking in the apertures of the base where by to engage a jar-neck.

4. A fruit-jar filler consisting of a funnel including a funnel-tube, abase attached to the funnel and surrounding the funnel-tube and providedwith apertures therein, and a spring-clamp working in the apertures inthe base.

5. The combination with a funnel, of a base provided withcircumferentially-disposed apertures and extending below the aperturesas a gage for a clamp, and a clamp mounted in the apertures andextending into the interior of the base so as to engage a jar-neck, whenthe base incloses the same.

6. A fruit-jar filler consisting of a bowl apertured at the bottomthereof, a tube attached to the bottom of the bowl at the aperturesthereof, a base provided with circumferentially-disposed apertures andsecured to the bowl and surrounding the tube, and a substantiallyU-shaped spring-clamp extending through the apertures in the base to theinterior thereof and projecting through at opposite sides of the base.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. ASHBAUGH. CHEEVER L. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PAYNE, E. T. SILvIUs.

